Metadata is a topic that everyday consumers easily overlook, but it provides the framework that enables the publishing industry to function. Everyone in the publishing industry will agree that metadata is essential. Accessibility metadata for digital publications is still a relatively new area, and one which the EAA and other accessibility legislation is likely to rely heavily upon.

This webinar will highlight the latest developments and best practices in accessibility metadata, showcasing how far we’ve come and discussing some of the challenges that remain.

Starting June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will require ebooks and many other services and products to meet specific accessibility standards to be sold in the European market. Join experts Chris Saynor (EDItEUR) and Wendy Reid (Kobo) as they guide Canadian publishers through the essentials of this new legislation. In this session, they’ll cover the role of metadata and ONIX in compliance, explore key accessibility standards and resources developed by the W3C, and share how Kobo is preparing to align with the EAA. This webinar is hosted by TechForum.

Hassell Inclusion’s Jonathan Hassell, will review what has been learned in 2024 in the world of accessibility, and what his predictions are for how new technologies, devices, laws and regulations will impact accessibility in the next 12 months.

This webinar aims to springboard accessibility thinking for the year.Topics will include:

• Vulnerable consumers – how accessibility can help
• The impact of the EAA in June 2025
• How will AI continue to impact accessibility
• From piecemeal to embedded accessibility – how organisations are winning from shifting their approach

The session will get you thinking and provides plenty of inspiration for where we all may be heading…

With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into force in June, publishers across Europe are tackling what compliance really means. Join this Bookmachine webinar where a panel of industry professionals taking big strides towards accessibility and EEA compliance will share what they have learned.